Funds indicate tough races

SAN ANDREAS - California 5th Senate District candidate Bill Berryhill is the top fundraiser among candidates for state legislative offices in the region so far this year.

Dana M. Nichols

SAN ANDREAS - California 5th Senate District candidate Bill Berryhill is the top fundraiser among candidates for state legislative offices in the region so far this year.

Berryhill reported raising $684,142 between Jan. 1 and June 30, according to filings with the California Secretary of State. Including funds raised last year, he's taken in more than $1 million in contributions.

Berryhill, a Republican, is a state assemblyman. His rival, Democrat Cathleen Galgiani, also serves in the Assembly.

Galgiani reported raising $542,031 in the first six months of the year, bringing her total to $689,633 for this election cycle.

The dollars flowing into the 5th Senate District reflect what strategists in both parties say is a district that could go either way in November.

As a result, some political donors have been hedging their bets. For example, both Galgiani and Berryhill have received $1,000 from the California Building Industry Association Political Action Committee. Both received donations from several casino-owning Indian tribes.

There are some differences in the source of funding. Galgiani tends to get more funding from labor groups.

As for Berryhill, his top source of campaign funds is himself. He has loaned his campaign $105,500 so far, beating out his second-place donor, the California Republican Party, which gave him $100,000 on June 29, according to filings with the Secretary of State.

Galgiani, in contrast, has had more than $60,000 in non-monetary contributions from the Democratic State Central Committee of California.

While the campaign fundraising by Berryhill and Galgiani has many similarities, the differences are more visible in a district to the east where two Republicans face each other in November.

In the 5th Assembly District that includes Calaveras County, former Assemblyman Rico Oller of San Andreas is pitted against Madera County Supervisor Frank Bigelow.

Looking at their campaign accounts, it might appear the two are evenly matched: Oller raised $241,017 through June 30 and has a total $390,617. Bigelow raised $294,681 this year and has $415,640.

But independently-raised dollars are being spent in this race also. The Mother Lode Taxpayers Association Committee was formed to support Bigelow. It has raised $235,000 and spent most of it in the primary to buy campaign ads attacking Oller. The committee reported having $21,198 left as of June 30.

Donations for that committee came from the California Real Estate Independent Expenditure Committee ($150,000), the California Dental Association ($75,000) and the California Cattlemen's Association PACT ($10,000).

The Assembly districts in San Joaquin County appear unlikely to spark similar fundraising fireworks between now and November as the candidates with significant party registration advantages appear to have a significant financial leads as well. Republican Kristen Olsen, running in the Republican-leaning 12th Assembly District, reported raising $135,716 this year. Her opponent, Democrat Christopher Mateo of Lathrop, did not meet the $25,000 threshhold required for him to file electronic fund-raising reports.

In the Democrat-leaning 13th Assembly District, Democrat Susan Eggman, a Stockton city councilwoman, has similar advantages. Eggman reported raising $182,040 this year, while her Republican opponent, K. "Jeffrey" Jafri, did not reach the threshold to file electronically.